Philanthropy

The Lisa C. Williams Endowments & Listening Room

Lisa C. Williams’s commitment to philanthropy was the catalyst for establishing three endowments at Boston University: Circle of Friends Impact Scholarship Fund; Circle of Friends Impact Legacy Scholarship Fund; and Circle of Friends Design for Equity and Inclusion Scholarship Fund. Each of these endowments qualified for the Century Challenge by which Boston University will match, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the annual scholarship awards distributed to student(s) from this Fund for a period of 100 years. Each endowment is likely to be worth more than $5 million, or collectively $15 million dollars in 100 years.

The Lisa C. Williams Listening Room was established by Ms. Williams at Boston University as a safe space, as Howard Thurman would say, for “centering down and turning inward.” It is a place for introspection and contemplation and a place to be present and grow. It encourages visitors to be generous, kind and nurturing to themselves and to others.